The correct option is (c) 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fibre that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. It is a natural polymer primarily composed of cellulose.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Cotton is a warm-season crop that requires high temperatures (21°C to 30°C) and at least 210 frost-free days. In India, it is primarily grown as a Kharif crop (sown at the beginning of the monsoon and harvested in autumn/winter), not as a winter-only crop. It cannot tolerate the low temperatures typical of a strict winter season.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The fruits of the cotton plant are called cotton bolls. Morphologically, they are spherical capsules roughly the size of a lemon or a walnut.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Inside the mature cotton boll, the seeds are enveloped by soft, white cotton fibres. Upon maturity, the boll bursts open, exposing the seeds covered in these fibres, which are then harvested for textile production.
Key Takeaway:
Cotton is a tropical/subtropical Kharif crop (not a winter crop) characterized by lemon-sized fruits called bolls, which contain seeds encased in cellulosic fibres.